Compare towns
Dexter vs Gorham vs Rumford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dexter has the oldest population (median age 51).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dexter | Gorham | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822Lowest |
18,300Highest |
5,942 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
50.4±3.4 13% above ME |
| Dexter and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rumford and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119 26% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186 28% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,988Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
22.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | Gorham High School | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
12.9 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.